Back from POR undecided how I feel!

[dklmommy]

Which PORiverside building is the best to request? I may have missed this somewhere, but did you choose "mansions" because it was the most recently renovated, or closest to buses, or for some other reason? Do you happen to know which building is the best to request for cleanest/most newly-renovated rooms? Thanks so much in advance!
Krista

 

[kileybeth]

Indiana disneyfan, which mansion where you in? facing what?

I didn't so much mind the walk to bus stop although in the heat it really was no fun. It was more the fact that I did have to walk it to go anywhere.

I think I am just very used to being in the actually building I am going to for breakfast or services and then having transportation right outside our door. spoiled I guess.

also we only waited excessive amounts of time that one night after leaving MGM. Waiting over an hour is simply unacceptable as guest from every other resort were just sailing out of there. Our wait times were genreally in line with what we expected for a large resort, 5 to 20 minutes depending on how we caught it. Also never stood but that one evening. Buses were practically empty every other time except one DTD bus which was nearly full one time.

That is about as specific as I can recall.

 

[dawgfan]

Ahhh the general death of customer service. I feel your distress. It seems that everywhere or at least almost everywhere, this is happening. Travel industry partners who can deliver top notch service are those that are rising to the top. The key here is not necessarily tied to the money you spend but on the management. The consumer who does his/her homework usually comes out okay. We are somewhat trapped as Disney lovers because they seem like the only game in town when one wants to stay on site and we have becomne accustomed to higher levels of service there. Happy workers = good service. Pay is not always the biggest factor in service delivery from employees. Disney needs to do something in this arena.

 

[kileybeth]

kimpossible, technically you cannot wait any longer than 20 minutes for a DTD boat. However, in reality, this is how it goes.

Up until 4pm boats run every 20 minutes. After 4pm they run every 10 minutes. These times do not include loading time, stops at FrenchQuarter, or the wait at boat pavilian (It is shaded, has benches, and a ceiling fan). Also does not include time to walk from your building. If line is long, I guess you could wait longer than that, we never had to many folks in line with us, maybe 2 or 3 other families so we all fit on the one boat.

I would keep your POR reservation, it is a beautiful place, and I loved the relaxed feel of it. Just plan travel time accordingly and you will be fine.

we used Magical Express which was awesome and quick. Only had bell services hold our carry on on last day but that also was quick efficient and great service with a smile.

 

[iluvdizknee]

I have said this before and will hold to my word. I have stayed at Mods and Values.....I love the values, especially POP.. The wait for the buses at the Mods was absolutely riduculous.....POP ... never had to stand, wait time quick. And the walk to the food court at POR....OMG...Give me POP anyday.

 

[Indianadisneyfan]

Indiana disneyfan, which mansion where you in? facing what?

I didn't so much mind the walk to bus stop although in the heat it really was no fun. It was more the fact that I did have to walk it to go anywhere.

I think I am just very used to being in the actually building I am going to for breakfast or services and then having transportation right outside our door. spoiled I guess.

also we only waited excessive amounts of time that one night after leaving MGM. Waiting over an hour is simply unacceptable as guest from every other resort were just sailing out of there. Our wait times were genreally in line with what we expected for a large resort, 5 to 20 minutes depending on how we caught it. Also never stood but that one evening. Buses were practically empty every other time except one DTD bus which was nearly full one time.

That is about as specific as I can recall.

We were in building 85 room 8596. We were right across from the east depot. Our room was facing the parking lot. Here is a pic of our room, It is just to the right of my Toyota 4-runner. Here is a map of POR Riverside and French quarters. http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_...h_Quarter/Port_Orleans_French_Quarter_Map.pdf

 

[Flametamr]

Hope it's okay for me to add my opinion on POR.

We checked in on 8-27 around 130pm. No real long wait and the staff was nice. I got a girl that was in training. We discussed my request and the fact that I needed a first floor room in A-B close to the front and the reasons why. They made a big deal about going in the back to arrange things. When they returned she said my room would be assigned later and to call back after 4. I commented that it's a good thing I drove so I would have my stuff to go to the park.

Well we got put in bldg 36. The fartherest one possible from anything facing the parking lot and dead between two bus stops. On top of that there is only one ramp on the entire bldg. So you had to almost circle the bldg the way it's cut up. I use a stroller for my handicapped DD so I need a ramp. I asked to bed moved and was denied. The resort was booked solid and they did not care where you got put regardless of the reason you wanted to move.

The busses were okay but crowded each time we used them. And they have changed the routes taken so it's a longer ride now. We eventually got tired of running late to our ADRs and started driving. They have started splitting up the bus from POFQ on some days or routes but it was still crowded. They need to do more to fix the bus issue still.

The main pool was not usable in my opinion. The chlorine stench hit you walking up. It was reported in another thread that there were a couple of diaper incidents during my stay so that may have been the reason for the overkill on chemicals. It was also crowded too. This was around 9 or 10 at night. We decided against swimming and went to the arcade. Which was very nice and reasonably priced. But several games took our money and there was no way to get them fixed or get a refund. It is all automated with a card system.

The food court was big and the food choices seems good. But the two times I actually ate there it was very packed. 20 people in line for food and then again to pay. My food was cold by the time I sat down. I hate cold food. We did not try Boatwrights but it looked nice. The club seemed fun as we walked by. The piano guy had people well entertained.

The room and Mouskeeping- I liked the room. But it is obviously a hotel room. It was clean and stocked. The mousekeeper did a good job and we got towel animals every day axcept one because she was off. She left a note thanking me for the tips and said she was sorry about that one day. I liked the resort in general but the 15 minute walk to the food court and pool ruined my stay. It was way to far to just walk over for a snack or drink. I had bought a mug and only filled it maybe 4 times the whole week.

My overall feeling is mixed. The resort has potential to be good. Given the right time (less crowded) and a better room assignment. The landscaping and quiet pools are nice. But the resort is really just too big. They need more help with everything. They need to build another food court or remodel the resort to put it in the middle and not on the one end. They need more bus routes that make less stops. Perhaps split the resort in half and make A-B seperate from the Mansions during busy times. Regardless I'm going back to POFQ next year. I liked it much better and found it more to my taste.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I wonder if it just depends on the bus stop.. I was at the North Depot.. I never had to stand and waited at the most 10 minutes for a bus. On the way home from the parks a few times when we saw we would have to stand we waited a few minutes for the next one. After a long day in a hot park we were all to tired to stand.

AS fast as soaps and shampoos.. the soap we got were round bars with clear packaging with mickey on top. Shampoo was a blue container.

I did not think the walk to FQ was bad... its a nice stroll along the river.

 

[Cindy B]

When I was a POR from 8/26-29, we were given the new H20 toiletry products. These were in clear wrappers (soap) and blue tubes (shampoo and conditioner). No lotion at POR!

When we moved to CSR, we also got shower gel, and lotion.

The old wrappers are red/yellow. That is the old stock and I have no idea why they were using that instead of the new products.

I also asked for an Alligator Bayou room upon check in and I got the resort is full line as well. We wound up in Acadian House room 8237 in a weird corner spot which faced a parking lot if you looked right and a small patch of green if you looked down.

 

[kileybeth]

Indiana disney fan, does sound like you got a great location and in my mind that would probably have made a world of difference for us. We did use North Depot and found it to be a fairly quick wait in morning but slow during mid day. My bus issue was just in leaving parks. You do need to ride quite a while once you are picked up just to get to where you want to go though.

LisaNJ95, I'm laughing at the nice stroll comment and French Quarter. I was so looking forward to that stroll (DH and I walk regularly at home and enjoy a few miles a day) The heat just overwhlemed me I think. Even the boat ride there (if on wrong side of boat!) even with a breeze was just to warm to enjoy. Alas, it is Florida so no blame to cast on Disney for that! Perhaps next time I should book for January, my regular and preferred Disney month! I also think maybe I'm not so young anymore, imagine!

Flametmr, thanks for joining in. Sounds like you are as mixed about POR as I am. There was a lot to like and I never want to be overly negative but somethings just might have been better ya know?

Cindy B, yes, it was definitely the old stuff and since I have seen the new stuff and enjoyed it I was just a bit disappoiinted. I think as I mentioned before they were just swamped over labor day and were trying to stay afloat during the dates of my stay. who knows?

I luvdizny, my DH really enjoyed POP's food court as well as the lay out/location of it.

Dawgfan, yup, yup, yup and yet we still keep going back!! I just hold to the notion that it doesn't cost you anything to be nice to someone so why in the world would you not be! And even if it did cost, it's just plain right! don't get me going!

 

[jess20k]

What's wrong with the buses to POR? We stayed there once before but had our car, our next trip there we'll be using the buses. Is that bad?

Definately take the car if you can!!! When we stayed there in 2006 the bus service was pretty bad! On the flip side when we stayed at POFQ this past Feb. it was fine. Reason being is the the bus stops at POFQ first.

When we stayed at POR most of the time the buses were already mostly full by the time it got to our stop. It was full of guests from POFQ, so if we couldn't make it on the first bus, we had to wait again for another one. We also ended up standing many times.

 

[Tammy D]

After reading all these posts, I'm a little concerned that I picked the wrong spot for our next trip. We stayed at POFQ last trip and that was great and this time around we thought we would give POR a try. Is there anyone out there that can share some good experiences?

I had done some checking around before booking this resort and what I had found was that most people recommended staying in Magnolia Bend in the Oak Manor building. Has anyone stayed in this building and is it in a good location to all major area's of resort?

Also, does anyone happen to know which depot the buses stop at first when arriving at POR?

 

[LisaNJ25]

LisaNJ95, I'm laughing at the nice stroll comment and French Quarter. I was so looking forward to that stroll (DH and I walk regularly at home and enjoy a few miles a day) The heat just overwhlemed me I think. Even the boat ride there (if on wrong side of boat!) even with a breeze was just to warm to enjoy. Alas, it is Florida so no blame to cast on Disney for that! Perhaps next time I should book for January, my regular and preferred Disney month! I also think maybe I'm not so young anymore, imagine!

and you got lucky with a no kids trip lol I am the most out of shape person and had no problems with it.. and pushing a stroller. The heat did stick though.. I would also prefer January. We ended up there by accident.. My older 2 we going to the pool and the food court so hubby and I we going to take the younger kids to DTD. It started to lighting so we hopped off and FQ and had dinner at the food court.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Again, Disney sink areas in Values and Mods always seem awkward to me but they worked out just fine. Shelf above sink was more than adequate for the two of us. Family of five?

I mailed a box to the resort and included a couple of small plastic crates and shoe organizer which really helped!

We stayed in building 17 8/21-8/28!

What room where you?

1718. You weren't the ones with the jack hammer one night above us were you? It was just that one incident and about the time I thought about trying to call the front it stopped.

I tried to find a shorter way to our room but I would just get lost. I like the straight lines on the buildings at the values and the much more direct paths. The curvy paths and zig zaggy buildings may add to the atmosphere but I'm too tired from long days in the parks to appreciate it.

I have said this before and will hold to my word. I have stayed at Mods and Values.....I love the values, especially POP.. The wait for the buses at the Mods was absolutely riduculous.....POP ... never had to stand, wait time quick. And the walk to the food court at POR....OMG...Give me POP anyday.

Can't wait to go back to Pop!

Hope it's okay for me to add my opinion on POR.

We checked in on 8-27 around 130pm. No real long wait and the staff was nice. I got a girl that was in training. We discussed my request and the fact that I needed a first floor room in A-B close to the front and the reasons why. They made a big deal about going in the back to arrange things. When they returned she said my room would be assigned later and to call back after 4. I commented that it's a good thing I drove so I would have my stuff to go to the park.

Well we got put in bldg 36. The fartherest one possible from anything facing the parking lot and dead between two bus stops. On top of that there is only one ramp on the entire bldg. So you had to almost circle the bldg the way it's cut up. I use a stroller for my handicapped DD so I need a ramp. I asked to bed moved and was denied. The resort was booked solid and they did not care where you got put regardless of the reason you wanted to move.

That is just wrong!!!!! I was at POR for 10 nights. A friend joined us for 1 night on our 6th night. It wasn't until we were going to her room in our building that we found the ramp.

I'm glad POFQ is an option for you. I won't stay at POR again unless they have prefered rooms.